“I can’t imagine what must have been going through her mind. ‘I heard you were wanting to adopt,’ she said. ‘I have a 2-month-old little girl.’ Speechless. How could this be real? ‘Mira, I wanted to call you sooner, but I didn’t know how to say it.’ My husband was away on a 2-week rotation with the Navy. Without hesitation he responded, ‘go get her.’ You go get our baby.’ So, I did.”

“Buying presents, buying decorations, going to parties. Stressing about spending too much, about making everything magical. Maybe if we get that big bonus. Maybe then life would feel like it’s supposed to, like Candace Cameron Bure in all those Hallmark movies.”

“I ‘ooh and aah’ over my kids’ hand turkeys and marvel at what they’re thankful for, only to turn around and curse the Wi-Fi for being spotty and fuss at my husband for putting my already-snug jeans in the dryer.”

“Yet another child: Can I tell you about this new game that’s coming out that I really want for Christmas? Me: Yes, after my shower. Walks upstairs. Children follow. Child: How MANY pieces of candy can I have after dinner? Yet another child: So I can get that game for Christmas? Steps out of shower.”

“So, you’d think I’d look at this picture, look at her all smiley and hiding and ignorant, and I’d be embarrassed. Or maybe sad for what she went through, or even angry, at my husband or my mom, or the world or God, but I don’t feel any of that.”

“Our families aren’t millionaires and it’s unfortunate how expensive it is to fly during Thanksgiving and Christmas. We won’t have grandparents and cousins rushing through the door to greet us. I want it to feel special, despite the lack of loved ones.”

“I told him I would let him know when I was home from school, so he could come pick me up. Little did I know when I made that phone call, the details I heard on the other end would change our lives forever. Nothing would ever, ever be the same.”